View full sizeChuck Cook, The Times-Picayune archiveThese feral hogs were photographed in 2004.

The panel first gave unanimous approval to House Bill 294 by Rep. Major Thibaut, D-New Roads, to allow the trapping of the hogs year round. Thibaut's bill also would authorize hunting of the feral hogs at night with any type of rifle. The bill requires the state Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to issue special permits to trap the hogs and says the permission of landowners is needed on private property.

Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Jefferson, followed Thibaut with House Bill 169 to allow the hunting of the hogs, beaver and nutria with silencers. Henry said the "sound suppressors" can be purchased only with the authority of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which requires the user to purchase a special stamp to get the device. The silencers can reduce the sound of a weapon being fired by as much as 95 percent, backers of the bills said, meaning more of the pests can be shot.

"The wild pigs are out of control," Henry said. Thibaut agreed, "It is an all-out war against the hogs."